TRENTON — The state Senate has passed a resolution urging state Supreme Court Justice Roberto Rivera-Soto to resign if the Assembly doesn’t begin impeachment proceedings against him. The resolution (SR105) was authored after Rivera-Soto decided to abstain on all cases because he believed it was unconstitutional to have a temporary judge fill the vacant spot left after Gov. Chris...
The State Senate might ask Supreme Court Justice Roverto Rivera-Soto to resign.TRENTON — The state Senate has passed a resolution urging state Supreme Court Justice Roberto Rivera-Soto to resign if the Assembly doesn’t begin impeachment proceedings against him.
The resolution (SR105) was authored after Rivera-Soto decided to abstain on all cases because he believed it was unconstitutional to have a temporary judge fill the vacant spot left after Gov. Chris Christie declined to re-nominate former Justice John Wallace. Last month, Rivera-Soto tempered his stance, announcing in an opinion that he will rule on cases where the temporary justice, chief appellate judge Edwin Stern, does not affect the outcome.
It passed 21-3. Most Democrats backed it and Republicans did not vote. The two no votes were state Sens. Sandra Cunningham (D-Hudson) and Brian Stack (D-Hudson).
Christie nominated attorney Anne Patterson to fill Wallace’s seat, but Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-Gloucester) has refused to consider her.
“It is the sense of the Senate that the actions of Justice Roberto Rivera-Soto are prejudicial to the administration of justice and constitute a serious violation of the public trust,” reads the resolution.
Justices can be impeached for misdemeanors committed in office, and the resolution says his conduct “may constitute grounds for impeachment for misdemeanor committed during his continuance in office.” But it does not elaborate on how the justice’s conduct could be a crime.
“The Assembly remains hopeful the justice will resign, but has no plan for impeachment proceedings," said Assembly Democratic Spokesman Tom Hester Jr.
Previous coverage:
• N.J. Senate to decide if it will ask Justice Roberto Rivera-Soto to resign
• Poll: Should the Supreme Court discipline Justice Rivera-Soto?
• Codey calls on N.J. Supreme Court to discipline Justice Rivera-Soto
• N.J. Supreme Court Justice Rivera-Soto tempers stance on abstention
• Rivera-Soto calls off plan to abstain from N.J. Supreme Court cases involving temporary justice
• N.J. Supreme Court Justice Roberto Rivera-Soto tells Gov. Christie he doesn't want to be renominated
• N.J. Senate Democrats urge Supreme Court Justice Rivera-Soto to resign for abstaining on cases
• Editorial: Time for Justice Rivera-Soto to resign
• N.J. Senate president calls for resignation of Supreme Court Justice Rivera-Soto
• N.J. Supreme Court justices disagree over role of temporary judge on court